Filtering by Tag: Hamden,Vineyard

Salvatore’s Steakhouse Opens in Hamden from Ferraro Family

Restaurant Opening Hamden Italian Steakhouse

Frank Cohen

Salvatore’s Steakhouse recently opened with little fanfare in Hamden’s Spring Glen neighborhood, but the news ripped through town like wildfire. It was fortunate that the kitchen and staff practiced extensively on friends and family before opening, because within just a few days Salvatore’s was fairly humming, even on so-called “slow” nights.

Salvatore’s owner, Victoria Ferraro, must have realized the restaurant was likely be busy from the get-go and would need to hit the ground running. You see, Victoria has a secret—she’s a third-generation Ferraro. Arguably New Haven “royalty,” the Ferraro family has been in the grocery business for over 70 years, tracing back to Salvatore, Sr. and wife Joan’s humble beginnings at Mohawk Market on State Street in 1952. Then, for almost half a century, Ferraro Foods operated on Grand Avenue, with the couple’s sons—Salvatore, Jr., John, Peter and Mark—joining their parents in running the business. Oldest son Salvatore, Jr., Victoria’s father, eventually became the company president, but sadly passed on in 2010. In spring of 2021, Ferraro’s Market moved to its current convenient quarters on North Haven’s Universal Drive next to Target, bringing with it its huge fan base. Victoria, oldest child of Salvatore, Jr. and Nancy, had to know Salvatore’s would have a built-in audience even before it opened. 


Jam City Pizza Brings Detroit-Style Pies to CT’s “Pizza Mecca”

Restaurant Opening Pizza Detroit-Style Pizza Hamden Homepage

Leeanne Griffin

The founders of Jam City Pizza, a new Detroit-style pizza concept in Hamden, knew they were up against thin-crust supremacy so close to New Haven. 

But even as the Elm City was declared the “pizza capital of America” last year, Tyler Demora and James Woodward decided to add their version of the thick, square Michigan style to the area’s pizza offerings. 

“We’re trying to get people to understand that there’s other really great pizza,” Demora said.

The business partners, who’ve been friends since childhood, opened Jam City within The Cellar at Treadwell in Hamden last November. They took over the performance venue’s kitchen, with a menu of red and white pan pizzas, salads and snacks like chicken wings and tenders, fried pickles and garlic pretzel knots. 

Demora, a native of New Hartford, is a chef with more than 20 years of experience in the restaurant industry. His career has taken him to San Francisco and France, as well as closer to home in Providence and New Haven. He also owns and operates the Feelin’ Saucy food truck, which specializes in pasta dishes. 


Day Tripping: Kingdom of the Hawk—A Fresh Take on the CT Wine Scene

Features Wine Vineyard CT Wine CT Wine Trail Day Trip

CTbites Team

Nestled in the forests of Stonington, CT is a new winery aptly named Kingdom of the Hawk. 50 acres of pristine wilderness sits adjacent to a dark gray, contemporary, barn-like structure with fabulous wine, friendly staff, and, of course, hawks in flight. 

Conceptualized and designed by Michael and Merrily Connery, this winery epitomizes reimagination and, truth be told, a touch of romance. The Connery’s identified the lot and majestically repurposed the land into a burgeoning vineyard, events venue and social escape. 

The wine, such as the Raptor Red and the french-forward 2022 Pinot Noir Rose, is so drinkable that it is easy to see why both local residents are regulars and travelers are taking time to visit. Add the ambiance, which often includes live music and inviting fireplaces - both indoor and outdoor - and the Connery’s have essentially designed a life they love: spirited music and must-have spirits.  


Kris and Shane McGowan Open Wildcat, a "Cocktail Forward" Bar + Restaurant in Hamden

Features Interview Restaurant Cocktails Hamden Openings Homepage Interview Restaurants

Andrew Dominick

The word “ferocity” is used to describe the small, but mighty, wildcat. While the cat is native to Africa and Eurasia, the name “Wildcat” has been floating around Hamden and it has nothing to do with an animal, but rather, a cocktail bar that’s hoping to capture you with its ferocity.

Both from Pawling, NY, Kris ended up in Connecticut working for the Barteca Restaurant Group and Shane, though he was originally pursuing a possible career as a lawyer, found himself bartending in New York City instead. Wildcat is brought to you by twin brothers, Kris and Shane McGowan, whose names you’ve definitely heard before as they’ve been in the industry near and far for well over a decade after they graduated college.

“I opened the West Hartford bartaco and it was a great learning experience to be somewhere that was sort of becoming corporate at the time,” Kris says. “Then I got the hell away from there because I didn’t want anything to do with corporate. It was a good structure, system, and rule that I learned a lot about. I started as a bartender, then moved up to bar manager, assistant general manager, and helped open Westport (bartaco) to train new managers.”


Guide To Connecticut Vineyards To Visit in Summer 2024

Restaurant Features Vineyard Wine Shop WIne Wine Trail Highlight Homepage

April Guilbault

Rose All Day. Wine o’clock. Wine not? And remember, Sip Happens! Ah, the battlecries of the summer season! From day trips to special gatherings (any bridesmaids out there?), a bucolic, rambling vineyard is the perfect place to while away sun-drenched hours, maybe learn a little something, nibble a little something (wine and charcuterie go hand-in-hand, after all), and sip a whole lot of somethings. Those somethings are local, delightful and flavorful, handcrafted with skill and dedication, and finished off with a wine barrel full of love. A little note for your summer ramblings and sipping: Entries with asterisks (*) are participating wineries/vineyards on the CT Wine Trail. Pet-friendliness is also noted.


The Original Pizza Tub Opens in Hamden: The Pizza Tub Takes On The Slice

Restaurant Features Opening Pizza Hamden Kid Friendly

Stephanie Webster

Kevin and Carole Rizzo are cooking up something unique in Hamden CT. It’s pizza, but not like the pizza we Nutmeggers are famous for. It’s a “Pizza Tub” and CT residents are loving this new take on Connecticut Pizza.

“As a young boy, I would help my grandmother cook Sunday dinner every weekend. We'd start a day early, on Saturday and make everything from scratch. I learned the importance of fresh, quality ingredients,” says Rizzo

.Now, in his 400 square foot storefront, Kevin and Carole have taken this passion for Italian cooking, and a little inspiration from the “Pizza Cupcake” made famous on Shark Tank- to create the Original Pizza Tub.

“The whole venture was my wife’s idea…She loves pizza,” says Kevin.

In perfecting the pizza making process, he was also given mentorship from local restaurateur and friend, Albert Zuncja, of Alberto’s Restaurant in Seymour.

So, what is a “Pizza Tub?” It’s a handheld, 4 -bite seasoned pizza crust baked with sweet tomato sauce, Monterey Jack cheese & filled w/ tastiness including: bacon, sausage, pepperoni & onion. Guests can walk in to the Hamden storefront and Rizzo will bake them to order, or you can bring home a frozen four-pack. You can also save time and order them ahead online as they do take 11 minutes to bake.


Explore The CT Wine Trail: Winter Passport Program Giveaway ($5000 In Prizes!)

Features Vineyard CT Wine Wine

CTbites Team

Looking for something unique to do in Connecticut in the Winter months? Why not explore The Connecticut Wine Trail with their Winter Passport Program – a great opportunity for wine enthusiasts and novices alike to explore the CT countryside, visit member farm vineyards, taste delicious local wines, and win fabulous prizes – valued at over $5,000!

Through March 30th, visitors can pick up a free passport at any of the 13 participating wineries and start on a quest to visit each one. Those who get their passports stamped at all 13 wineries before March 30th become eligible to win fantastic prizes, like hotel stays, spa facials, rounds of golf, fabulous restaurant and gift cards, and of course…wine. Stamped passports must be submitted to one of the participating vineyards by the deadline date to be eligible (photocopied passports or pages will be disqualified). Winners will be chosen by random drawing on April 19th and will be notified by email or phone.

https://ctwine.com/events/winter-wine-trail/


Roost Opens in Hamden: It's All About The Chicken Sandwich (Gluten Free) & More

Restaurant Take Out Kid Friendly Lunch Fast Casual Hamden Openings Sandwich

CTbites Team

A sous vide chicken sandwich is a minor detail, but the minor details make major taste differences - and that makes all the difference for your customers. That's what Roost believes. Completely locally owned and operated, the menu starts with the chicken sandwich - but with several twists: starting with a unique sous vide cooking technique which creates an incredibly juicy on the inside, crunchy on the outside sandwich, and continues with a variety of unique toppings from Napa Cabbage Slaw to Carolina Reaper Pepper Buffalo Sauce that you won't see at just any fast casual restaurant.


Pokémoto Opens: Fast Casual Hawaiian Poké Bowls Now In New Haven, Hamden, Fairfield, & Norwalk

Restaurant Fairfield Seafood Lunch To-Go Take Out New Haven Hamden Norwalk Homepage

CTbites Team

The delicacy of Hawaiian fast casual poké has finally made its way to Connecticut at the new Pokémoto, now open in New Haven, Hamden, Fairfield, & Norwalk. The fresh, sushi-grade fish, in addition to tofu and chicken options, is offered in an assortment of ways with a multitude of toppings and marinades from which to choose. 

I recently visited Pokémoto’s Fairfield location to try the savory bowls and enjoyed the revamped space showcasing colorful fish, fruit, and vegetables aplenty. The offerings were laid out both simply and beautifully, allowing guests to either select from Signature Bowls or create their perfect mix of flavors in a customized entrée. Poké can be enjoyed in three formats: A poké bowl over rice, a wrap nestled in a sheet of roasted Nori, or over a salad.


Southern Connecticut Wine Company Invites You To Make Your Own Wine

Features Ingredients Education Cooking Classes WIne Wine Tasting Vineyard Wallingford

Emma Jane-Doody Stetson

In 2016, Forbes Magazine claimed to have discovered the “secret to happiness.”  “Spend money on experiences, not things,” they told their readers.  CNN took it one step further.  “That's in part because the initial joy of acquiring a new object, such as a new car, fades over time as people become accustomed to seeing it every day…,” they reported.  “Experiences, on the other hand, continue to provide happiness through memories long after the event occurred.”

Those looking to invest in a meaningful experience can find a solution tucked away in Wallingford, just off the highway, but hidden from view.  Southern Connecticut Wine Company, located in an unassuming garage-like building behind the railroad tracks, affords people the unique opportunity to create their own wine over the course of a season.  I had the chance to be an honorary co-op member for the day and witness a little bit of what they have to offer.


Kala Bistro Opens in North Haven From Olea Chef, Manuel Romero

Restaurant Hamden North Haven New Haven Openings Lunch Spanish Latin American Asian

Lou Gorfain

Though open for just two weeks, Kala Bistro has already attracted a small throng of regulars. The night we dined, the staff recognized more than half the patrons, greeting them warmly, like old friends.

Our server, Rose Ledee, pointed out a couple at a table on the patio. “This is the third time they’ve come in the past week!” she gushed, proudly. 

In contrast to the formal, fine dining of Olea, Manuel Romero’s acclaimed Spanish hot spot in downtown New Haven, his new restaurant is suburban, relaxed, and very much a part of a bustling neighborhood that borders North Haven and Hamden. Lower-keyed (and lower-priced), the bistro menu is far more global and just as scrumptious. 

Consider the Bao Pork Belly, the epitome of Chinese dim sum. The sweet, soft bun pillows a slice of savory, chewy pork belly, their contrasting textures framed by a crunchy cucumber disk, tart pickled carrots, briny hoisin, and mustard seeds. Despite the complexity of flavors, Chef Romero has created a sandwich that tastes surprisingly simple and subtle. 


Getting to Know FRESKOS Modern Greek Food in Hamden

Restaurant Greek Hamden Mediterranean

Amy Kundrat

During my first job out of college, I frequented a diner for what became a weekly Greek salad lunch ritual. That may have been over ten years ago, but it inspired a life-long love affair with the dish. So when a friend suggested trying out newly opened FRESKOS in Hamden, I jumped at the chance to try their greek salad and was happily met with a heaping bowl filled with romaine lettuce and topped with chopped cucumbers, sliced tomatoes, stuffed grape leaves, and a big block of feta. Served with warm pita, and greek dressing, I have finally found my local antidote to that Greek salad craving.  

FRESKOS is a modern Greek fast casual restaurant, that leans towards light and fresh Greek dishes such as souvlaki and gyro sandwiches which are served with warm pita, red onion, tomato, tzaziki, and dill. In addition to sandwiches, FRESKOS focuses on seasonal salads and soups, such as the avgolemono soup, a traditional Greek soup with a chicken broth base filled with lemon, egg and rice. A FRESKOS original is a Greek Pita Pizza, which struck me as an apt Greek interpretation to its pizza-loving location just a stone's throw from New Haven.


Road Trip: Chamard Vineyards Farm, Winery, & Bistro in Clinton

Ingredients Restaurant Clinton Road Trip Vineyard WIne Lunch

Jessica Ryan

How often does one get to visit a vineyard that’s blanketed by crisp white snow, or highlighted by a fiery autumnal backdrop, making it even more magical than it already is? Nestled in the shoreline town of Clinton, about a mile beyond the hustle and bustle of the outlet shops is a charming vineyard that boasts over 20 acres of grapes as well as their bountiful fruit, vegetable and herb gardens. One might not consider Connecticut to be wine country, but Chamard Vineyards Farm, Winery, & Bistro is worth noting. Established in 1983, Chamard’s winning Estate Reserve wines are exclusively made in their winery, and can be enjoyed in their Tasting Room or in their dining room. The bistro offers a creative farm-to-table menu featuring a French inspired American menu.  Their Chardonnay and Merlot are very good.

The Smokebox in Hamden: New Haven Area BBQ Has Arrived

Features Restaurant BBQ Hamden New Haven

Amy Kundrat

SmokeBox in Hamden first opened to support the smoked meat habit of its sister restaurant Ordinary in New Haven. Its owners, Jason Sobocinski of Ordinary and Caseus, and Mike Farber of Mikro in Hamden, opened their doors to the public for lunch about six months ago. The kitchen's founding mission was simple, support the partners' network of New Haven and Hamden restaurants as a commissary kitchen with barbecue, and open for lunch if there is demand. 

And demand there is. Smokebox has become a sought after lunch destination thanks to its smoky slow cooked meat forward lunch box approach to barbecue. Also, there is the fact that this is real barbecue. Getting it right requires a constellation of well-sourced materials and ritual: types of woods, cuts of meat, spices or rubs, wet (sauce) or dry, and above all things, timeall things that Smokebox takes very seriously. 


2014 Food Truck Festival in Hamden

Restaurant Food Truck Hamden

CTbites Team

The second annual Hamden Food Truck Festival is taking place this Friday, June 20, from 4:30 to 9 p.m.at Hamden Town Center Park.

Over 30 vendors will fill the park, including:

SAVORY

Caseus,  Spuds Your Way, Firedog, Turkey HUT LLCFryborg, World Famous Ted's Steamed CheeseburgersThe Whey StationSzabo's Seafood Take Out, Prepared Foods and CateringMamoun's Falafel CartAurora's Gypsy CafeThe Soup Girl, Smoke Box BBQ, Uncle D's Blazin BBQ, and Ricky D's Rib shack.

SWEET

Four Flours Baking Company, LLCSugar Bakery & Sweet ShopNoRA Cupcake CompanyAddeo's Italian Ice, Nana's Ice Cream truck, Ben & Jerry's of Canton, CT, Six Pence Pies, Elm City Kettle Corn, DiSorbo's BakeryFruit Whirled


Weekly Nibble: Upcoming Food News & Events

Restaurant Holiday Italian Tacos Vineyard Wine Dinners Wine Tasting

Emma Jane-Doody Stetson

Monday April 28, Napa & Co of Stamford presents FAVORITE WINES OF SPAIN.  Explore the dusty, dirty and sultry wines of this HOT region from Priorat, Campo de Borja and Rioja. There will be 6 wines to experience. $50/person (exclusive of tax and gratuity). 

Also on Monday the 28th, Barcelona West Hartford presents “Paella 101.” Join Chef Eric in this class dedicated to the Spanish classic – Paella! Learn how to make this delicious dish and a popular Barcelona favorite. For reservations please call the restaurant at 860.218.2100. $29 per person, plus tax and gratuity. 7pm.

Golden View Firenze Ristorante and Continental Fine Wine & Spirits will team up for a 5 course Tuscan Wine Dinner of Tuesday April 29.  5 dishes will be paired with 5 different Italian wines.  $70pp plus tax and gratuity.  Call 203-869-0865 to reserve.

Tuesday April 29, New Canaan Wine Merchants invites you to raid their reserve room!  Between 7 and 8:30pm, guests can select 3 high end wines to open, talk about, and taste.  Free event.

April 29 is also the 6th Annual Glenlivet/Cigar Dinner @ Max Fish in Glastonbury.  It features cigars from "The Tobacco Shop" on Pratt Street  in Hartford, CT, food, and Glenlivet pairings. $125 per person, not including tax & gratuity. Space is limited, so call for reservations today. 860.652.3474. 6-9pm.